With all three expressing their support for smaller government, fiscal conservatism and lower taxes, State Senate district 47 candidates Shane Coley, Kelley Gary and Pat Graham voiced several similar concerns at the Feb. 15 meeting of the Barrow County Republican Party.

Chief among those concerns is the common belief that government has grown too large and inefficient to serve the people effectively.

Coley described the current bureaucratic system as “destructive” to both liberty and the nation.

“We have a view of government in this nation today that is very different than the way our nation was founded,” Coley said.

Calling government the problem and productivity the solution, Coley advocated reducing the scope and power of government as well as reducing spending, taxes and regulations.

“Government must become small and liberty must become big,” he said.

Coley wants to promote the Atlanta to Athens high tech corridor in order to attract growth to the area. He is also pro-life, a strong second amendment supporter and believes marriage should be between a man and a woman.

A resident of Barrow County for the past 27 years, Coley is a deacon and Bible teacher at the First Baptist Church in Statham and is the owner of MSC Enterprises, a technology company involved in various private research projects.

Like Coley, former Braselton mayor Pat Graham also expressed support for smaller, more efficient government with increased local control for cities and counties.

Her chief priority though, if elected, will be the passage of a Georgia Fair Tax based on Congressman John Linder’s Fair Tax plan. Graham said Georgians carry too large of a tax burden – a burden that could be lightened with a consumption based tax.

“If enough states in this nation convert to the Fair Tax system, we’ll demonstrate to Washington that it can in fact be done and that it will work,” she said.

Graham further vowed to oppose unfunded state mandates and promised to make Georgia more business friendly by cutting the corporate income tax. Another priority would be to increase local flexibility in education spending by allowing school systems to increase funding through educational SPLOST dollars.

First elected as Braselton’s mayor in 2001, Graham, a Barrow County resident, said she is the only candidate with legislative experience and is a proven leader with a history of solid, fiscally conservative leadership.

While agreeing with Graham on several key issues, Kelley Gary took the former mayor to task for describing herself as a fiscal conservative.

Gary said that in her eight years as mayor of Braselton, Graham raised taxes and increased spending.

“Since 2006, in the midst of the worst economic crisis we have experienced since the great depression, spending in Braselton increased by 37 percent,” Gary said. “Taxes went up by 42 percent.”

Gary said Graham raised taxes through a series of what he described as “back door tax increases.” The increases, levied mainly on utilities and other services, hurt families and small business owners according to Gary.

“Taxes on electricity, for instance, went up 245 percent,” Gary said. The numbers, pulled from Braselton’s audited financial statements, show large increases in taxes on water (236 percent), liquor (175 percent) and businesses (66 percent) between 2006 and 2008.

“We can do better,” Gary said.

A self-described “passionate” advocate for limited government, Gary said it is critical to cut taxes and reduce the size of government in order to be competitive in a global economy. As part of what he refers to as “The Gary Plan,” he proposes eliminating the state’s portion of the property tax and passing legislation which would allow citizens to vote to completely eliminate property taxes and replace them with a sales tax or set a flat fee on property. Gary also supports zero-based budgeting and tax incentives for businesses.

Gary, a lifelong resident of Jackson County, owns Premier Storage in Braselton. He is a member of the New Community Church in Hoschton.

Coley, Gary and Graham will face fellow Republican Doug Bower in the July primary. Bower, a professional counselor and a former Oglethorpe County Commissioner, announced last week that he was joining the District 47 senate race. District 47 is comprised of Barrow, Madison and Oglethorpe counties, along with a large portion of Jackson County and smaller areas of Elbert and Clarke counties. The contested state senate seat is being vacated by Ralph Hudgens who is currently seeking election to the post of state insurance commissioner.

Qualifying for the race will be held in April. The winner of the Jul. 20 primary will face Democratic candidate Tim Riley in the November general election.

The next meeting of the Barrow County Republican Party will be held Mar. 15, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Gerry Purcell, candidate for insurance commissioner, and Roger Hines, candidate for state school superintendent, are scheduled to speak.

The Barrow County GOP meets at the Winder Woman’s Club located at 15 West Midland Avenue in Winder. The meetings are open to the public. For more information, visit www.barrowgop.com or join the Barrow County Republican Party on Facebook.

Can we get a clarification from Gary about HIS claim of "Taxes on electricity, for instance, went up 245 percent"??????

I mean SURELY you wouldn't need to look at the audited financial statements to see if the PEOPLE of Braselton had an increase of that magnitude... one would think that the tax would show up on one's Electric Bill.... IF however it's a 245% increase in REVENUE due to additional homes and businesses this increase in REVENUE should be applauded....

Can we get a clarification on whether just REVENUES went up or the tax percentage that people pay went up?

Considering that a large part of Braselton is in Jackson county and that county has grow both in household, and businesses I would assume the increases are due to increases revenues coming into the city.

Take for example the electric increase of 245%. If one had a electric bill of $50 before the increase, their bill would increase roughly $122 for a total of around 172 dollars.

I think Gary is looking at numbers but not understanding them. Don't need someone like that in office.

How about the BAD high densiity Hoschton development, where the developer (Kelley) demanded a sewer plant, then opposed the City's proposed rate changes, opposed taxes, forced the Hoschton to eleminate police, and is now hoping to collect $250,000 by suing Hoschton. His actions have left our small community with little hope and less protection. How do those numbers add up.

As I understand it, Braselton did not have a tax on electricity prior to Pat Graham being elected. Now they do. This tax was implemented and then dramatically increased in 2007.

http://www.mainstreetnews.com/2007/June/BE0613C.html

"Jennifer Scott, town manager and clerk, said last week that Braselton officials renegotiated the electric franchise fee to get more funds next fiscal year."

Looking at the audited financial statements this tax increase becomes readily apparent. In 2007 Braselton collected 142,328. That's on page 57 of the 2007 audited financials (see Francise Tax - electric at the top of the page). In 2008 Braselton collected a whopping 404,068. The increase from 2006 is 245%. The increase from 2007 was 184%.

You can download the audited financial statements and see this for yourself by going to:

As part of the negotiations, JEMC agreed to update and keep updated their records as to the Braselton town limits. That is the reason for the increase. The rate of the fee, which is based on their revenues, did not increase.

We really should applaud Ms. Graham for her efforts at Braselton as she diversified the Town's income, managed a quality government which has continued to function in this economic down turn, and worked with multiple counties as she guided Braselton to be one of the Best Places to live in the Country.

Mr. Gary is a chip off the ole Richardson block. He rants border on bullying and certainly indicates he doesn't understand finances of governments. He desires to put power in the State government rather than keeping government local.

Gary suggesting tax incentives for business will simply pass the tax burden on the the working people. This is a page from the George Bush era, which turned the federal surplus budget into a deficit driven machine.
He doesn't present plans to pay for the actions of government or his plans, just calls for smaller government, tax incentives,and property tax relief.
Yet when you evaluate the State Budget 60 percent is education. I suppose we can cut the nubmer of teachers or the percent the State sends to each school district. The State has a history of not funding the programs as required by law and he provides no solutions to correct the issue. His party has been in power for a number of years, is he suggesting the Republicans haven't created smaller government, more efficient government, or better government.

Miss Anonymous, I suppose you think that Obama has done better? The Obama administration budget forecast a $1.56 TRILLION dollar deficit in 2010, or 10.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), up from a 9.9 percent share of GDP in 2009. Thanks to his stupid tax and spend ideas he has managed to increase the national debit in just one year.

Yes Bush should of vetoed alot of the spending that when on under his watch.
Also remember the dems. were in charge, of the House and Senate for the last two years Bush was in office.
Obama, Has proposed more spending then ever other President from George Washington thru George Bush combined.

If spending increases then tax increase. Every dollar the government spends comes from someones hard earned pay and decreases economic opportunity and the personal freedom to spend their own money as they please. I think Shane is the only one that truly understands basic economics. Government has learned to spell tax in many different ways and to collect it in many forms. To hide a tax within a utility is truly the worst form of tax a secret tax. They (politicians) hope that no one will notice. Forget the source, we all pay it, stop the spending!!!

The comments and the responses to this article seem to suggest Mr. Kelley has some credibility issues and character traits that may not be appropriate for Elected Officials. Kristi, I would appreciate the efforts you could make in investigating these matters, and if you are too busy I'm sure Mike can find time to investigate our potential public officials.

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